Toon Ends Holdout, Will Join Jets

September 12, 1985|By Don Pierson.

Three wayward New York Jets, including No. 1 draft pick Al Toon, have come home to roost.

Toon, a wide receiver from Wisconsin, ended his holdout with New York Wednesday. The Jets said Toon, a 6-foot-4-inch, 200-pounder, would sign a series of one-year contracts. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Toon, the 10th player and first wide receiver selected in last April`s NFL draft, was the last first-round pick to sign with his team.

-- Veteran quarterback Jim Zorn ``looked fine`` during a tryout Tuesday with the Green Bay Packers, but he is still looking for employment. Chuck Hutchison, Packers` director of player procurement, said the Packers had not offered a contract to Zorn, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks. ``I wouldn`t say we plan to in the immediate future,`` Hutchison said.

-- The San Diego Chargers, seeking a replacement for injured placekicker Rolf Benirschke, invited ex-Bear Bob Thomas to a tryout Wednesday. He kicked against former Packer Eddie Garcia and others for the job, which probably will be temporary. . . . Chargers` running back Curtis Adams underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Tuesday to repair damaged cartilage and will miss four to six weeks.

-- General manager Jerry Vainisi said he has no plans to call either of the Bears` holdouts, safety Todd Bell and linebacker Al Harris, or their representatives. If either player wants to renew contract discussions, he can call the Bears.

Bell has been offered approximately $400,000 a year and Harris approximately $275,000, although both offers are currently off the table.

``That might have been the dumbest we`ve ever played since I got here. Everybody played hard, but dumb.``

-- The Bears put back-up linebacker and special-teams mainstay Brian Cabral on injured reserve and replaced him by re-signing rookie linebacker Jim Morrissey, an 11th-round pick from Michigan State. Cabral, a seven-year man, suffered torn cartilage in his left knee last Sunday. He is expected to be out more than a month.

-- The Vikings` Chuck Muncie was reinstated by the NFL after sitting out a one-game suspension for missing two drug counseling meetings. Muncie had been allowed back into the league by commissioner Pete Rozelle after sitting out last year. . . . Vikings` linebacker Matt Blair underwent surgery to remove a bone spur from his left knee and is expected to be out at least a month.